Serret Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 £5.99
Just half an hour from Chateauneuf but on the other side of the mighty Rhone river, and high in the hinterland of the Ardeche, lies Valvigneres - the lost valley of the vines! This is rugged, wild country - the deep gorges were once a haven for the French Resistance and thwarted all but the most intrepid wine merchants for decades. Now, thanks to the value its superb wines offer, a number of top Burgundy houses have invested in the area and word of this exciting little region is getting out. When last pitted against its peers in the Bordeaux style category, this impressive Cabernet Sauvignon came a staggering third out of 47. No wonder the villagers (all 89 of them!) are so fiercely proud of their wine traditions.